Project Summary
Transaid developed a Transport Management System with the Ministries of Health in Coast and North East Provinces, as part of the Kenyan national strategy to improve the health of people in Kenya by making services more effective, accessible and affordable. The strategy recognised that, in order to achieve this, the health service’s scarce transport resources must be well managed and maintained. The Transport Management System will enable it to achieve this.
The Problem
We conducted a feasibility study and full fleet inventory which showed that the general conditions of the 279 vehicles that the Ministry of Health had in Coast and North Eastern provinces was poor, a quarter had gone beyond their economic life and some were not suitable for the road conditions. There was a lack of planned preventive maintenance and the facilities available were inadequate. There were no systems for allocating vehicles or planning their movements and no management data to base transport decisions on. There was no such role as a transport manager. As a result, transport was not seen as integral to health service delivery, despite almost all aspects requiring some form of transport.
The Process
The fleet inventory identifies the shape of the existing fleet, and any problems with its make up and management. Provincial transport management teams will be set up and transport management training provided for all levels of health service personnel, including transport officers, managers and users. Follow up visits and workshops at a provincial level support the training. A comprehensive Transport Policy and information system will be developed, to enable managers and users to make informed and cost-effective transport decisions. Driver and rider training will cover driving techniques, routine checks and maintenance and first aid. Advice will be given on the procurement of new vehicles and spare parts, a planned preventive maintenance system will be developed and a network of accredited maintenance and repair workshops will be set up, with a system for regular appraisals.
The Partners
Ministry of Health in Coast Province and North East Province of Kenya, Ministry of Health in Ghana, DANIDA, Bibby Distribution, Royal Mail.
The Result
So far we have trained 22 key staff, including Administrative Officers, Medical Officers, Transport Officers and Nurses, in the basic procedures of transport management. They have developed District Action Plans, using a combination of their newly acquired skills and knowledge and real life experiences and we have now completed the second level of transport management training, using live management information gathered since the first. Analysis of data collected on fuel use, maintenance costs and demand is ongoing. Operational skills building has also taken place, with trainers from Bibby Distribution, a UK corporate supporter, teaching 23 drivers from each of the districts to become driver trainers and assessors, and a UK Metropolitan Police trainer working with motorcycle riders. Volunteers from Royal Mail have reveiwed maintenance procedures and made realistic and practical recommendations for improvements including quick wins like the introduction of a Fleet Engineer role, centrally controlled maintenance policies, vehicle replacement and purchasing plans, and the use of polytechnics to oversee the work of roadside mechanics. DANIDA is satisfied with progress made so far and has pledged to provide 34 4WD pick-ups, 15 ambulances, 4 minibuses for staff transport and 36 motorbikes. However, District Medical Officers have been told that, unless their Transport Management System is up and running, they are unlikely to receive them and have demanded additional training and support in time for their arrival in June 2007. Though Transaid agrees that this is needed, due to unfortunate circumstances with the country's political instability and safety concerns, our work has had to be put on hold for the time being.
